Carolina must respond to the adversity of Dexter Strickland's season-ending injury.
CAREER NOTES
Tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in a summer league game on July 14, 2011 • Underwent miniscus repair and reconstructive surgery on the ACL on Aug. 3, 2011 • His recovery time is to be determined.
366 points • Has 62 three-pointers, second-most on the team among active players (three behind Harrison Barnes) • Made 40 more three-pointers as a sophomore than he did as a freshman.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2010-11)
Carolina's fifth-leading scorer overall, the second-leading three-point shooter and top scorer off the bench at 7.0 points a game • Scored in double figures 10 times, including five ACC regular-season and Tournament games • Second on the team with 51 three-pointers made • Made two or more three-pointers in 12 games and four or more four times (Hofstra, Long Beach, Rutgers and Saint Francis) • Made 4 for 20 from three-point range in the last six games • Did not play against Clemson on Jan. 18th because of a back contusion and a small pneumothorax • Suffered the injury in the second half at Georgia Tech on Jan. 16 when he simultaneously fell on the ball and was kneed in the back.
Three-pointer with 3:46 to play against Marquette finally put the game out of reach • Scored all five of UNC's bench points and played well defensively in the win over Washington • Made one of the defensive plays of the season when he defended Clemson's Demontez Stitt on the final play of regulation in Carolina's win in the ACC semifinal • Played a huge role in Carolina's comeback win over Miami in the ACC quarterfinals - scored all 11 of his points in the second half • Hit three three-pointers, two of which jump started the Tar Heel rally from 19 points down.
Helped UNC build a 51-39 halftime lead over Duke as he scored nine first-half points on 3 of 3 shooting from the floor and 2 of 2 free throws • Scored in double figures for the second straight game (first time in ACC play) with 10 key points in the win at Florida State • Hit three three-pointers against the Noles, including back-to-back hoops less than a minute apart that gave UNC a 49-44 lead midway through the second half • Scored an ACC season-high 15 points against Maryland - went 6 for 10 from the floor including 3 for 5 from three-point range • The six field goals were as many as he made in his previous four games • Helped keep UNC close early in the first half at NC State with five points on a pair of baskets • Scored all 13 of his points against Wake Forest in the first half, helping Carolina to a 41-28 lead at the break • Also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds (five on the offensive glass) and made a career-best 5 of 6 from the free throw line against the Deacs • Had eight points (six in the first half) at Duke • Scored nine points in the win at Boston College, including a three-pointer that started UNC's first half run • Hit one three-pointer at Virginia, but it was one of the biggest plays of the game as it cut into UVa's 10-point lead, the last time UNC would trail by double figures.
Led UNC with 14 points on 4 of 7 three-point shooting in the win in Madison Square Garden over Rutgers • Scored 14 points on 5 of 10 shooting against William and Mary -- hit a pair of first-half three-pointers that broke open a sluggish game and gave Carolina a 19-point lead • Won his first defensive player of the game award as a Tar Heel in the win against William and Mary • Hit his first five three-pointers in the first half en route to a career-high 17 points against Long Beach • Also had a career-best three assists against Long Beach • Tied his previous scoring high with 16 points in the win over Hofstra when he made 4 of 6 three-pointers • Went 3 for 3 from the floor including a pair of three-pointers against College of Charleston • Hit a key basket against Kentucky midway through the second half after the Wildcats built a 57-51 lead, UNC's largest deficit of the second half.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2009-10)
Scored seven key first-half points in win at Mississippi State, helping UNC to a 36-33 halftime advantage • Hit a clutch three-pointer in the NIT over William and Mary • Trailing 59-55, he hit a three to pull within a point • Was CBS's player of the game in the win at Wake Forest as he scored a season-high 16 points • Had season highs for points, field goals, field goal attempts, three-pointers, three-point attempts and minutes in Winston-Salem • Was his second game scoring in double figures, first in ACC play, and the first time as a Tar Heel he led the team in scoring • Made 6 of 14 from the floor (2 of 5 3FG) • Scored nine points in the first half helping Carolina to a 32-28 lead at the break • Hit a three-pointer with 12:27 to play, moments after the Deacs had taken their one and only lead of the second half on a three by Al-Farouq Aminu • Later, Wake cut UNC's lead to three (from 11), but McDonald scored on a driving layup with 51 seconds to play to give UNC a 73-68 lead • Then he sealed the win by taking a charge.
Went 4 for 4 from the line and netted seven points against FSU • Scored five of his seven points in the second half in the home win over NC State • Three-pointer from the corner gave UNC a 53-45 lead, then added a pair of free throws to up the lead to 10 for the first time • Was more points than he had scored in his previous five ACC games combined • Made two three-pointers and connected on a pair of clutch free throws for eight points in the loss to Georgia Tech • Was the first time as a Tar Heel that he made multiple threes in a game • Made both free throws with 5:02 to play and UNC trailing by four • Scored nine points on 4 of 7 shooting from the floor at Clemson • Was the third time in the last four games he scored nine or more points • Sprained his right ankle in the loss at the College of Charleston, but played 11 minutes in ACC opener against Virginia Tech • Played a season-high 28 minutes and scored in double figures for the time at the College of Charleston • Had 11 points, four rebounds and two blocks against the Cougars • Scored nine points against Albany and added three offensive boards and two assists • Had seven points, six rebounds and two steals in win over North Carolina Central • Played well defensively in the win over Michigan State.
PREP
Played for Coach John Harrington at Briarcrest Christian High School in Eads, Tenn. • Two-time Tennessee Division 2 AA Mr. Basketball • All-time leading scorer in Memphis private school history with 2,353 points • Also set the school career mark with 875 rebounds • Started 129 of 133 games at Briarcrest • Averaged 20.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists as a senior • Averaged 21.5 points as a junior • Led Briarcrest to the state title in 2008 • Scored a single-game best 37 points as a sophomore • Won Gatorade Player of the Year honors in Tennessee in 2008 • Also earned prep Academic All-America honors • Member of the drama and art clubs • Played for Team USA in Nike Hoop Summit in Oregon • Also earned fourth-team All-America honors from Parade magazine • Played for the USA U18 National Team in the 2008 FIBA Americas Championships in Argentina.
PERSONAL
Born Leslie Vernard McDonald on Feb. 4, 1991, in Memphis • Son of Leslie Sr. and Wanda McDonald • Has yet to declare an academic major.
